My Style

These days, everyone knows couple who met through online dating services.  Statistics demonstrate that the use of online dating sites by people over 40 has increased by nearly 200%.

Justsayhi.com is one of the best free dating sites on the web and it’s definitely the easiest way to meet people - no pressure, no expectations. If you think you’d like to get to know someone, you can check them out from the safey of your computer before you make contact via email or phone call and see if you feel comfortable meeting them in person.

www.JustSayHi.com is the same as paid dating sites. It has all the usual suspects - chat, searches by specific criteria etc, but like the good things in life, it’s FREE!

Not sure where or how to start with your home reno project? Maybe you need a renovation coach?

With space at a premium, many singles and couples live in studio apartments.  Also known as ‘efficiency apartments’, the studio dweller lives, works, sleeps and eats all in the same small space.  So how do you make a small space both functional and beautiful?

Multi-tasking.  Get a futon or sofa that serves as a sofa during the day and folds out into a bed at night.  A single (twin) bed can be transfored into a daybed with a pretty throw and some cushion.

Use your suitcases and bags to store out of season clothes and other items you use infrequently.  Store the suitcases under the futon or day bed.

Use a large, flat topped trunk as a coffee table or extra seating.  Use it to store things that you use regularly, but not every day like linen, towels and blankets.

A bookcase can be used as a room or space divider. A dressing area can be created by dividing off one corner of the room with the bookcase

Plants to add to the atmosphere and freshen the air.

A small table can double as a desk or a dining table.

Attractive, stackable baskets are great for storing all sorts of things and since they are stackable, you minimuse the use of floor space.

Living space is a valuable commodity, but if you are like me and live close to the city, more space = more mortgage.  So here are a few tips to make the most of your small space.

1. Paint the walls with a bright, light reflecting colour.  Dark colours ’suck’ the light out of a room, so stick to lights and brights. All over patterns and prints can also make a room seem smaller so try and avoid them.

2. Limit the amount of furniture you have in each room.  It’s easy for a small space to be cluttered, or just to look cluttered.  Furniture with ‘feet’ or legs that raise it even a few inches off the ground also help to keep the room looking open and flowing. 

3. If you choose to have lighter coloured walls and the minimum of furniture, try going with either furniture that is either much darker than the walls or that is the same or similar in colour.  Both these techniques will help to open the space up further.

4. Don’t understimate how much you can use wall space.  Hang shelving high on the walls for decorative pieces or books you don’t refer to often.  Tall, narrow storage units are ideal for small spaces. 

5. Pay attention to lighting.  If your small space doesn’t get a lot of light, be sure to use full spectrum lighting and add a standard lamp for extra light without taking up space on a table or cabinet surface.  Wall mirrors are also excellent for increasing the light in a space.

6. Get rid of the clutter!  Get in the habit of tidiness, or at the very least have a few decorative, stackable baskets or containers that you can keep things in that you need to have on hand.  Tripping over your shoes, cups or other random items will take away the sense of peace and space you have created.

I love diamonds, so let me just say right up front that if anyone is struck with the urge to give me diamonds, please go right ahead.  Any and all diamonds accepted. Pink, yellow, cognac - I don’t care, I love them all.

My former roomate recently got engaged and now has an enormous solitaire engagement ring. Another girl at work recently brought her self a 1.5 carat diamond solitaire pendant.  Nice.

I used to work in a jewelry store and we mostly sold diamond rings, wedding rings and engagement rings.  I will never forget the feeling of selling my first engagement ring - he was such a lovely guy and was thrilled to be buying a surprise engagement ring for his sweetie.

 www.mysolitaire.com looks like a good site to go to for your jewellery.  As well as a great range of styles and build your own options, they offer buy back and trade up options, something that is becoming more common in diamond retail. 

All the images seem very clear - it’s not hard to see what you are getting for your money.  They have some  gemstone pieces too which I just love.

They have a good range - including some options a bit cheaper than diamonds like pearls and gemstones.  Their prices look pretty competitive, plus they have some special offers, interest free payment plans and free shipping.  Their 30 day returns policy lets you buy with confidence.

Be sure to check out the Knowledge Centre and find out about the importance of cut, colour and clarity when choosing your diamond.

One type of rose that seems saturated with sophistication beginning with its name is the English rose. There have been stories and books written with the name. But the English roses are especially deserving of a name that suggests class and royalty.

English roses are a group of roses, introduced by a hybridizer in the 1960’s. They were created to enhance some of the Old Roses, although a rose is a special flower in its own right and would seem to need no such enhancing. A rose by any name or type is a long-admired favorite among almost anyone.

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A visit to a day spa is rejuvenation for the mind, body and spirit.  Here are some tips to find spa-like relaxation at home every day.  Turn bathroom into a little piece of heaven. Before you begin, eliminate what luxury spas do not have – clutter. Before all else, declutter.

* Adding dimmers is an inexpensive fix you can do yourself.  Soft lighting is a must for an at-home spa..

•Whether it’s a CD player or a new-age playlist for your iPod, bring soft, relaxing music into your new spa room.

•Scented candles and bath oils are an easy way to get that spa-scent.

•Invest in some quality body scrubs and loofahs and pamper yourself with thick, fluffy bath towles.

• Keep a glass of cool water with orange or lemon slices close by - keeps your skin hydrated.

Home storage solutions are one way people can cut clutter in their homes.  Having less furniture in the master bedroom is becoming an increasing trend as people de-clutter their bedrooms. There are multiple choices, from simple wire shelving fixed to walls to closet built-ins that are furniture in their own right.  Although any room will benefit from shelving and storage, master bedroom closets are the most popular areas.  Many closets are separate rooms now, not a separate piece of furniture.  It’s an easy and economical way to double, if not triple your storage space for the same price as a new closet.  A built-in closet allows clothing rods and shelving to be at different heights, instead of the standard shelf on top of a clothing rod that barely can be reached.  This type of storage also offers space for organizing and keeping items out of sight. Some built-ins even offer a jewelry drawer to keep all accessories in one place.

Shelving and storage units also can take advantage of unused space near the ceiling, storing out-of-season or less-used items - an important consideration for small rooms or apartments.  Some built-ins offer tie racks, pull-out clothing hampers and even pull-down hydraulic rods for clothing stored near the ceiling to maximize space.

Remember the golden rule for small space decorating - keep things off the floor!

Who hasn’t heard of the most popular flowering plant of all time, the rose? The rose plant can spark a quick conversation amongst even the shyest of persons. Almost anyone can tell you of someone they know who has grown beautiful roses or of someone who couldn’t. Almost anyone can tell you of someone who got or sent roses, especially around the holidays. Even little children know what the rose plant is.

The local florist most likely has dozens of colors, types, and sizes of rose plants. It would seem to be the best selling flower of all time. The local discount store and even the local grocer carries some sort of rose plant these days.

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The use of landscape roses can make the exterior of any house more graceful, fragrant and inviting. Selecting the right varieties to compliment and accent the home’s style and your vision, will contribute to the success of your landscape and rose garden design.

Finding the perfect roses for your rose garden is not hard at all because of the the diverse varieties roses come in. The problem lies in choosing the right ones for your landscape needs and the design you wish to attain.
Roses come in a number of classes. Each class holds characteristics that make them a great choice for use as landscape ornamentals. If you’d like to have roses growing up and over a trellis or archway or cascading from window boxes, the tall growing tea roses are a perfect choice. Tea roses are known for their wild growing blooms and all who walk under the archway enjoy a beautiful display of roses.

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